Despite being led, Fanta Bale didn’t shirk the task, gradually grinding back the margin, levelling up to eye-ball the leader around the home turn before slipping into top gear, sprinting clear to salute by just over two lengths in 42.35.

Flashing home for second was up and coming kennel mate Rippin’ Sam (Fernando Bale x Tears Siam Feb ’15) ahead of a tiring Champagne Sally.

Owned by Paul Wheeler, Saturday’s win took her prize money earnings beyond $1.25 million in prize money – less than $40,000 off becoming Australia’s all time highest earner.

She will go down as arguably the best race bitch the sport has seen when she retires – her rap sheet boasting wins in the 2017 Group 1 Australian Cup, the 2016 Group 1 Hume Cup, the 2017 Group 1 Rookie Rebel, the 2017 Group 1 Sandown Cup, the 2017 Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup, the 2017 Group 1 National Distance, the 2017 Group 1 Bold Trease, the 2018 Group 1 Zoom Top, the 2018 Group 2 Summer Distance Plate, the 2017 Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup and the 2017 Group 3 Sydney Cup.

She will now head towards the heats of the Group 1 Superstayers at The Meadows next Saturday night.

“She has got the ability, she wants to win– she chases her heart out and you can’t ask any more,” Riley said.

Riley also praised the efforts of Rippin’ Sam which was having just his 17th career start in the Zoom Top. The boom youngster will be one to watch over the next few months, having now won five of his seven starts over the longer distance.

“He is the heir apparent.

“He is one of the best young stayers I have seen in a long time. He is a little bit slow early like a lot of stayers, but with some more race experience he is going to be very hard to beat in the future.”